Summer Breeze

Simply the words bring you back to a special time.

Summer. More than a word, really. Even more than a season. An experience. Perhaps one of the most memorable experiences for many. Sitting here, listening to the mystical sounds of Bob Dylan, the cool refreshment of sipping iced tea from a jar, even sitting on my back porch and watching the sun retreat for the day to make room for the silver moonlight that illuminates the warm summer nights which are the cause of magic. It seems the most mundane tasks become charmed with the scent of summer, the golden rays of the sun, and the cool breeze that sweeps away all one's troubles.

And swept them away it has.

What is there to worry over in a time where all there is is friendship abound and memories to be made? Breaking the shackles and unleashing the fiery teenage angst that lies within all of us. To be swept away in the waves of the long days and cool nights, being who we are meant to be. Teenagers. Kids. To do otherwise against a teenager should be criminal. No one should be forced to do anything else but be themselves during such a magical time of the year. Go ahead, relax yourself. Be free. Chase the cute guy or the girl of your dreams that you've always wanted. Go out and have nights by the lake swimming and grilling until the sun rises. Rebel against adulthood and unleash the spirit you know you have inside you. Blow away your problems like the summer breeze. C'mon. You know you want to.

Make your summer more than a memory, my friends.

Trapped

Human nature certainly puzzles me.

This time, it's not an observation that I have noted in other people, although I am sure that others feel this way too. I have observed such behavior in my own being, and it is something that I haven't felt in the longest time. It's almost humorous to explain what I am going through because of how childish and ridiculous it is. Regardless of the underlying immaturity that may be present, it is something that I feel should be expressed. There's gotta be one person out there who understands what I'm going through. Maybe everyone feels this way in one way or another. They're just afraid to admit it.

Okay. Here goes.

How is it possible to feel such overwhelming emotion for one person? I just don't understand how one can invest unfathomable amounts of feelings for another human being. Is it something that just occurs naturally? Because this feeling only seems to surface when I experience something in my life that involves someone I care about with undying loyalty. Even in times of tragedy of which I am so fond of, the feeling of missing one person due to loss or disconnection. What causes us to feel so strongly? Conversely, there is the opposite. Someone that you care about so much, you would go to any lengths to show it. It's a phrase tossed about so often, "I would do anything for you." The question is, would you? Unfortunately, there is no way to show that you would unless the situation arises where you were given the opportunity to do so.

The thing is, I'm caught in this situation.

But I have this deep, sincere instinct that leaves me on standby to do anything for this one person. I just haven't been able to show it yet. I'm trapped in my own emotional bind, like I'm not sure how to contain all of this emotion. The worst part is I'm not sure how much I should invest in this. If it were to be that my investment is wasted because of the situation I'm in, what do I do? Either way, I feel I am in emotional turmoil. My own overwhelming feelings are being used against me, and until compromise is reached, I just feel trapped.

Get me out of here.

...and Justice For Some.

I don't like being political on my blog. But today, I just have to. Because this seriously got me angry.

Please tell me the difference between this person:

And this person:

Both were tried in court for serious crimes. The difference? One walked free while another waits to see if their life will be spent in prison.

The bottom photo is of the former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky, charged with 48 counts that range from involuntary deviate sexual intercourse to unlawful contact with a minor. Many former Penn State football players claimed that over the span of 15 years, Sandusky inappropriately touched, sexually harassed, and in one instance raped one of the victims. The late former head coach Joe Paterno was also tried, but died of lung cancer shortly after the accusations were made. During the trial, there was no physical evidence presented by the prosecution, only the testimony by the victims and others who testified, such as the mother of one of the victims who claimed that her son's "underwear would be constantly missing from the laundry." This statement was used as actual testimony against Mr. Sandusky. Besides these testimonies, there was no evidence presented to prosecute Sandusky.

The top photo is of famous mother Casey Anthony, charged with first degree murder of her daughter Caylee Anthony. Along with these charges were four counts of a misdemeanor charge of providing false information to a law enforcement officer. During this trial, there was an overwhelming amount of evidence presented by the prosecution in order to convict Anthony of this crime. There was motive (Anthony murdered her child to pursue a life of partying), there was physical evidence (telephone calls between Anthony and her parents), and the charges of lying to law enforcement officers showed she was trying to cover it up. Anthony made up a story of a fake babysitter that babysat her daughter the night of her disappearance, sending the police on a search for the made up babysitter. The defense merely used emotional appeal to defend Anthony in her trial. Very little evidence was given besides alibi. 

Jerry Sandusky was convicted on 45 of 48 counts. His sentencing has yet to be scheduled and awaits sentencing in prison. He faces life in prison.

Casey Anthony was found not guilty of first degree murder. She was, however, found guilty of the 4 misdemeanor counts. She was sentenced to 4 years in prison and $4,000 dollars. However, due to 'good behavior', Casey Anthony served two days in jail. She walked a free woman on July 17th, 2011.

Where is justice?

I'm not here to discuss whether these decisions were right or wrong. May I only ask, where has the American justice system gone wrong in their efforts to offer justice for all? Sure, it is impossible to determine what truly happened. There must be closure in each case to suffice the needs of the victims and their families, but is this closure truly satisfying? There are millions of criminals who are walking free today, while even more are in prison convicted of a crime they did not commit. Hell, we've even seen this before here locally in Colorado. This isn't the first time that the justice system has failed. My simple question is this:

Where is justice?